Hidden Zeeman-type spin polarization in bulk crystals

TL;DR

This paper uncovers a hidden Zeeman-type spin polarization in bulk crystals with sublattice structures, revealing new possibilities for spintronics in both centrosymmetric and non-centrosymmetric materials.

Contribution

It introduces the concept of hidden Zeeman-type spin polarization in bulk crystals and demonstrates its occurrence in specific materials through first-principles calculations.

Findings

HZSP exists in both centrosymmetric and non-centrosymmetric materials.

Nonsymmorphic screw-rotational symmetry is crucial for HZSP formation.

First-principles calculations confirm HZSP in WSe₂ and BaBi₄O₇.

Abstract

Exploring hidden effects that have been overlooked given the nominal global crystal symmetry but are indeed visible in solid-state materials has been a fascinating subject of research recently. Here, we introduce a novel hidden Zeeman-type spin polarization (HZSP) in nonmagnetic bulk crystals with sublattice structures. In the momentum space of these crystals, the doubly degenerate bands formed in a certain plane can exhibit a uniform spin configuration with opposite spin orientations perpendicular to this plane, whereas such degenerate states are spatially separated in a pair of real-space sectors. Interestingly, we find that HZSP can manifest itself in both centrosymmetric and non-centrosymmetric materials. We further demonstrate the important role of nonsymmorphic twofold screw-rotational symmetry played in the formation of HZSP. Moreover, two representative material examples, i.e., centrosymmetric WSe$_2$ and noncentrosymmetric BaBi$_4$O$_7$, are identified to show HZSP via first-principles calculations. Our finding thus not only opens new perspectives for hidden spin polarization research but also significantly broadens the range of materials towards spintronics applications.